“2027 Presidency: Babachir Lawal Urges Nigerians to Reject Atiku as ADC Rift Deepens”
Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, has urged Nigerians not to vote for former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar in the 2027 presidential election, accusing the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate of engaging in ethnic politics.
Lawal reportedly made the remarks while reacting to controversy surrounding the ADC governorship ticket in Adamawa State. He alleged that Atiku was behind efforts to replace the party’s candidate, Suleiman Omar, with Tukur Modibbo an allegation that has not been independently verified. Lawal also questioned Atiku’s political conduct and urged Nigerians to scrutinize the former vice-president’s suitability for the presidency.
The latest exchange is part of a growing political rift between the two prominent Adamawa politicians. Lawal previously resigned from the ADC after alleging that the party’s presidential primary, which produced Atiku as its 2027 candidate, was manipulated in his favour. He subsequently called on the party to reconsider Atiku’s candidacy, arguing that the opposition needed a stronger strategy to challenge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Atiku’s camp has rejected Lawal’s allegations, describing them as unsubstantiated and politically motivated. Through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, the former vice president said Lawal had failed to provide credible evidence to support his claims about the ADC primary and other accusations. Atiku also accused the former SGF of promoting ethnic profiling and urged political debates to focus on governance, policies, security and the economy rather than ethnic divisions.
The dispute comes as Nigeria’s opposition landscape continues to face internal disagreements ahead of the 2027 general election. The growing tensions within opposition ranks have raised fresh questions about the ability of rival political forces to build a united front capable of mounting a strong challenge against the incumbent administration. Reuters has previously reported that divisions and defections have complicated efforts to consolidate Nigeria’s opposition ahead of the election.
As the 2027 political contest gathers momentum, the allegations and counter allegations between Lawal and Atiku are likely to remain part of a wider debate over leadership, internal party democracy, ethnic politics and the future direction of Nigeria’s opposition politics. However, the claims made by both sides remain politically contested, and voters will ultimately be required to assess the candidates and their platforms based on verifiable facts and policy positions.